Computation of Global and Local Mass Transfer in Hollow Fiber Membrane Modules

Benjamin Lukitsch, Paul Ecker, Martin Elenkov, Christoph Janeczek, Bahram Haddadi, Christian Jordan, Claus Krenn, Roman Ullrich, Margit Gfoehler and Michael Harasek
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Benjamin Lukitsch: Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna 1060, Austria
Paul Ecker: Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna 1060, Austria
Martin Elenkov: CCORE Technology GmbH, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Christoph Janeczek: CCORE Technology GmbH, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Bahram Haddadi: Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna 1060, Austria
Christian Jordan: Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna 1060, Austria
Claus Krenn: CCORE Technology GmbH, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Roman Ullrich: CCORE Technology GmbH, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Margit Gfoehler: Institute of Engineering Design and Product Development, TU Wien, Vienna 1060, Austria
Michael Harasek: Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna 1060, Austria

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides a flexible tool for investigation of separation processes within membrane hollow fiber modules. By enabling a three-dimensional and time dependent description of the corresponding transport phenomena, very detailed information about mass transfer or geometrical influences can be provided. The high level of detail comes with high computational costs, especially since species transport simulations must discretize and resolve steep gradients in the concentration polarization layer at the membrane. In contrast, flow simulations are not required to resolve these gradients. Hence, there is a large gap in the scale and complexity of computationally feasible geometries when comparing flow and species transport simulations. A method, which tries to cover the mentioned gap, is presented in the present article. It allows upscaling of the findings of species transport simulations, conducted for reduced geometries, on the geometrical scales of flow simulations. Consequently, total transmembrane transport of complete modules can be numerically predicted. The upscaling method does not require any empirical correlation to incorporate geometrical characteristics but solely depends on results acquired by CFD flow simulations. In the scope of this research, the proposed method is explained, conducted, and validated. This is done by the example of CO 2 removal in a prototype hollow fiber membrane oxygenator.

Keywords: computational fluid dynamics (CFD); blood oxygenator; carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) removal; membrane separation; solution diffusion model; OpenFOAM ®; membraneFoam; validation; transmembrane transport prediction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2207-:d:331777

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